Planooraph co



N. POWER. TAPE MOISTENING AND APPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-5, 19H- RENEWED FEB- 6. I919.

Patented Sept. '9, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

THE coLUMnlA PLANOGRAI'H c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

N. POWER.

TAPE MOISTENING AND APPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED sEPLs. 1914.

RENEWED FEB- 6-1919.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- r 3 nue ntom wi/tmv/awo ,1. F. W

N- POWER".

TAPE MOISTENING AND APPLYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED'QEPf-Eh 1914- RENEWED FEB- 5| 1919:

Patented Sept. 9, 1919;

3 SHEETS-SHFET 3- NICHOLAS POWER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TAPE MOISTENING AND APPLYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Application filed September 5, 1914, Serial N0.860,311. Renewed February 6, 1919. Serial No. 275,457.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NICHOLAS POWER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tape Moistening and Applying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tape moistening and applying devices, and has for its object to provide a mechanism of this class in which any desiredamount of gummed tape may be drawn from a roll and moistened without taking hold of the tape with the hands.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by means of which the tape may be applied to the packageto be sealed, while the tape is being drawn from the roll.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the tape may be cut from a continuous length after it has been substantially all applied to the article, whereby the amount to be cut off is automatically determined by the size of the article to which it. is applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be cheaply constructed which will take up but little room, and which is simple in operation and not liable to get out of order.

With the above objects in view my invention consists in the device shown in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the details of construction disclosed are shown by way of example only, and that the invention is not limited thereto except in so far as defined in the ap pended claims.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the tape feeding device.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section showing the moisture applying device and tape folding blade;

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail. views showing a modified construction of the tape cutting knife.

T Referring to the drawings, particularly .iia.

it, 1. represents the base of the machine which is preferably designed to be clamped to the edge of a table or other suitable support. The machine proper is pivoted to the upper face of the base as indicated at 2 and integral with the side pieces 3 or rigidly attached thereto as most convenient for manufacture. The roll of tape rests on the sheets 6, whatever the size of the roll, and as 1t is drawn out the frictional engagement ,of the paper 011 the metal will apply a sub stantial uniform resistance to the pull of the tape. In addition to its pivot the machine is supported by a fixed stop 32 under its forward end against which the base of the machine is held by a spring 31 beneath the rear of the base.

i The basket 4 terminates in a narrow chute 7 which is bent horizontally and extends toward the front of the machine and contains a guide roller 7 The walls ofthe chute are slotted as shown at 8 and projecting into the slots of the lower walls are the teeth of a feed dog 9 pivoted on a spindle 10 mounted for reciprocation in slots 11 along the side walls 3. For actuating the feed dogs a sliding carriage 12 is mounted on the upper face of the chute 7 and having side pieces extending below the slots 11 and connected by a cross rod through a vertical slot in the depending rear end of the dog and sliding in suitable slots 11 below the slots 11. By this construction the move ment of the carriage first tilts the dog into positive engagement with the paper so that the teeth of the dog penetrate the paper beneath the slots in the upper wall of the chute. The carriage 12 has attached to it at one side a bar 12 which is slotted to re ceive the spindle of the presser roll 13 which holds the tape against the moistening roller, as will be later described. At its forward end the bar 12 is provided with a grip piece 14: by means of which it may be directly operated, and to its rear end there is connected through a link 15 a spring operated rock arm 16 adapted to returnthe bar when it is released at the end of its feeding movement. To prevent the return oi the end of the tape with the feed dog, a weighted dog 17 is mounted on a cross rod between the side plates 3 to engage and hold the tape after it is fed forward by the feed dog.

Cooperating with the roll 13 is a moistening roll 15 which is mounted for rotation in a small semi-cylindrical tank 16*, supported between the side plates 3. The tank 16 is connected by means of a tube 17 with a large auxiliary tank 18 at the rear of the machine to provide capacity for a sufficient supply of water. To prevent the water spill ing from the tank 18 when the machine is spindle. A pawl 24 is attached to the outer face of the gear and engages the ratchet whereby the gear will rotate the moisten-,

ing roll in the forward movement of the bar 12, but willrotate idly in the opposite direction on the reverse movement of the bar.

At the rear edge of the tank 16 and extending across the space between the plates 3 there is mounted a fixed knife 25 having its upper edge sharpened. Cooperating with the knife 25 is a shear blade 26 pivotally mounted at its outer end in an ear 27 projecting from the outer face of the side plate 3 and operated by means of a link 28 connected to the blade between its pivot and the wall of the machine, and pivoted at its other end to the stationary base 1.

In front of the roller 15 between the plates 3 there is provided a stationary curved folding plate or comb 29 which extends for wardly and downwardly from a point adjacent the upper face of the moistening roll with its forward end cui in'g slightly upward to provide a convex under face. The plate 29 is slotted throughout the greater portion of its length to form flexible tongues 30 to facilitate wrapping the tape around the package.

To prevent the paper adhering to the moistening roll and to cause it to be fed under the comb 29, the roll is provided with circumferential slots at intervals throughout its length and projecting into each slot is the end of a stripper wire 40 whose opposite ends are attached to the edge of the tank 16*.

The operation of the above described preferred form of the device will now be described. It will be assumed that the water tank is filledwith water and that a roll of gummed tape has been placed in the machine, as indicated in Fig. 1, with its end advancing into the feed chute beyond the feeding dog with its gumn'ied side down. The operator by means of the handle 14- draws the bar 12 forward thereby causing the feed dog to penetrate the paper and feed its end through the feed chute between the shear blades and between the moistening rollers. If the machine has not been freshly threaded with a new roll of paper the extreme end of the strip will be at the shear blades when the feed movement starts and the length of the feed will be suliicient to projectthe end through the moistening rollers and substantially und er the folding comb to about the front edge of the comb.

The handle 14 is then released allowing the spring operated arm 16 to return the feed dog to its original position, the paper be,- ing held against return by the dog 17.

The operator next takes the package or other articleto which the tape is to be ap plied and presses the surface at which the tape is to be first applied upward against the moistened surface of the tape beneath the folding comb. The spring 31 is stiff enough to hold the machine against tilting unless the pressure applied is more than sufficient to secure a firm adhesion of the end of the tape to the article. The operator then turns the article in the direction to draw the tape forward holding it against the folding comb so that the spring teeth of the comb will press the tape against the surface of the article accomn'iodating themselves to its irregularities.

When the article has been nearly encircled the operator raises the article against the folding comb with suflicient force to tilt the machine against the pressure of the spring 31, which movement operates the upper shear blade to cut the tape at the rear of the moistening rollers. The tilting movement of the machine raises the pivotal point of the knife blade causing it to turn on its connection with the link 28 which is attached to the stationary part of the machine. (See Fig. 4). After the tape is cut the operator continues to turn the article under the folding comb drawing out the free end of the tape and applying it to the face of the article, thus con'ipleting the operation.

The advantages of my ll1'l])l'()\"6(l machine will be obvious from the foregoing. In the first place the operator does not touch the tape at all with his hands and consequently does not get them soiled with the moistened gum of the strip. In an ordinary strip serving apparatus either the free end of the strip must be left dry to be grasped by the operator, or the operator must take hold of the sticky end of the strip in order to draw it from the machine. In the first case an imperfect application of the tape results, while in the latter case the accumulation of gum upon the fingers is obviously a very serious inconvenience. A further advantage lies in the arrangement whereby the size of the article determines the length of the strip drawn out. This results in a great saving of paper as op erators are inclined to over estimate the length of paper necessary rather than have it insuflicient to securely seal the package. Also a neater package is secured without waste of time in measuring the surface to which the tape is to be applied. L

After the end of the strip is fed forward the operator can use both hands to manipulate the package until the operation is finished, the cutting being affected by Jthe movement of the article itself. By having the cutting knives a sufficient distance to the rear of the moistening rollers, the gum in front of the tape cannot become softened and adhere to the machine until it is positively thrust forward by the feeding device, and as the feed rollers start their rotation as soon as the feed dog advances the bottom or moistened surface of theroller will be uppermost by the time the end of the tape reaches the rollers. Hence the gum will be softened to the very end of the strip. In Figs. 7 and 8 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of cutting mechanism in which the cut is secured by the operation of the feed bar instead of by tilting the machine. In this construction the machine may be rigidly attached to the base in any preferred manner not shown, and the spring return mechanism of the feed bar 12 will be dispensed with. The pivoted shear blade 26 is fulcrumed in a fixed ear 27 and at its outer end provided with a projection 33 running in a cam groove 28 formed in the upper edge of the feed bar 12. The cam slot is straight throughout the greater portion of its length and when the projection is in this portion of the slot the shears will be held opened to permit the passage of the strip between the blades. At the forward end of the feed bar the cam slot is curved upwardly as shown at 28 so that when the projection reaches this portion of the slot the shears will be closed and the tape out.

In operation the feed bar is first drawn forward as in the manner described, opening the shears and feeding the tape between the shear blades and moistening rollers out under the folding comb. After the article is bound as described, and the desired amount of tape drawn out, the op erator returns the bar 12 to its extreme rearward position so that the projection of the shear blade will reach the inclined portion of the cam slot and operate the shears to cut the paper. The shears are normally closed but are opened by the first movement of the feed bar without interfering with the feed of the paper, which will buckle up slightly against the closed shears shouldthe movement commence before the blades are opened.

In both forms of the device I have for convenience shown the feed bar as arranged on. the same side of the machine as the pivot of the shears, but of course this arrangement may be reversed if desired. By placing the feed bar on the left side of the machine as theoperator faces it, the right hand is free to take up the article to which the tape is to be applied. If desired the location of the feed bar may be reversed so as to be operated by the right hand. Various other changes may obviously be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a strip serving device, the combina-' tion ofa base adapted to be fixed to a suitable support, a support for the strip roll carried by said base, moistening means sup ported by said base adjacent said roll sup port, a feed devicefor positively advancing the free end of the strip through said moistening device and permitting the strip to be drawn past said feeding device, and a cutting mechanism for severing any desired amount of the strip.

2. In a strip serving device, the combination of a base adapted to be fixed to a suit able support,a support for the strip roll carried by said base, moistening means supported by said base adjacent said roll support, afeeding device for positively advanc ing the free endof the strip through said. moistening device and permitting the strip to be drawn past said feeding device, and a cutting mechanism operatable independently to sever the strip whenever desired.

3. In a strip serving device, the combination of a fixed base, a. strip moistening means :supported by said base, a support for the strip roll supported by said base, a feeding device between said moistening means and said support, means for operating the feeding mechanism to advance the end of the strip to and beyond the moistening means, a strip cutting mechanism also between said moistening means and said support, and independent means for operating said cutting mechanism.

4. In a strip serving device, the combina tion of a strip moistening means, a support for the strip roll comprising a reciprocating member adapted to engage and advance said strip in one direction of movement and to release the strip when operated in the opposite direction, a feeding device between said moistening means and said support,

means for operating the feeding mechanism to advance the end of the strip to and be yond the moistenmg means, a strip cutting mechanism also between. said moistening means and said support, and independent means for operating said cutting mechanism.

5. In a strip serving device, the combination of a support for the strip roll, a strip moistening roller, a strip guide between said support and said roller, a strip feeding member mounted for operation in said strip guide and adapted to engage the strip when moved toward the moistening roller and releasing the strip on its returnmovement, a manually operated member for operating the strip feeding device, and connections be tween said member and said moistening roller for rotating the roller on the forward movement of said member.

6; In a strip serving device, the combinationof a support for the strip roll, a strip moistening roller, a strip guide between said support and said roller, a strip feeding member mounted for operation in said strip guide and adapted-to engage the strip when moved toward the moistening roller and releasing the strip on its return movement, a manually operated member for operating the strip feeding device, connections between said member and said moistening roller for rotating the roller on the forward movement of said member, and a strip severing device adjacent said guide at the rear of said moistening roller.

7. In a strip serving applying device, the combination of a support for the strip roll, a strip applying member, means for moistoning and advancing the attached end of said strip adjacent said strip applying member, said feeding means being so constructed as to permit the strip to be drawn away from said support independent of the operation of the feeding means, and means operatable at will for severing the strip after the desired amount has been drawn out, said severing means being operatable through the agency of said strip applying member.

8. In a strip serving mechanism, the com bination of a frame, a strip roll support carried thereby, a strip moistening device also mounted on said support, a strip applying member in advance of said moistening means, means for advancing the free end of said strip from said support through said moistening means and to a position adjacent said applying member, a knife between said moistening means and said support, and means for operating said knife at will to sever a portion from said strip, said severing means being operatable through the agency of said strip-applying member.

9. In a strip serving mechanism, the combination of a tilting frame, a strip roll support carried thereby, a strip moistening device also mounted on said sn1 )port, a strip applying member in advance of said moistening means, means for advancing the free end of said strip from said support through said moistening means and to a position adjacent said applying member, a knife between said moistening means and said support, means operated by said movement of said frame for severing a portion from said strip.

10. In a strip serving machine, the combination of a frame, a strip roll support carried thereby, moistening roller also carried by said frame, a flexible strip applying blade carried by said frame in advance of said moistening roller, means for advancing the free end of said strip over said moistening roller and beneath said applying blade, a strip severing knife at the rear of said moistening roller, and means operated by an upward movement of said applying blade for actuating said knife.

11. In a strip serving device, the combi nation of a frame, a support for a roll of tape carried thereby, a moistening roller also carried thereby, means for feeding the end of the tape from said support to said moistening roller comprising a reciprocating and tilting feed dog, a reciprocating member for operating said dog adapted to first tilt the dog into engagement with the tape and then move the dog bodily to feed the tape over the moistening roller.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 13th day of August, 1914.

NICHOLAS POWER.

IVitnesses IV. B. MORTON, L. E. JOHNSTON.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, .D. G. 

